JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar challenged Chirag Paswan's statement of contesting on "243 seats." He stated that the NDA alliance functions on trust, seat-sharing will be decided soon, and the Prime Ministerial and Chief Ministerial candidates have already been declared.
Bihar Election: Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has created a stir in political circles by announcing his intention to contest all 243 assembly seats in Bihar. He stated that his alliance is solely with the people of Bihar. In response, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar countered, stating that the alliance functions on trust and that Nitish Kumar has already been designated as the Chief Ministerial candidate by the NDA.
Chirag Paswan, the head of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and a Union Minister, has sent shockwaves through Bihar's political landscape. During a program in Ara, he explicitly stated that his alliance is not with any political party, but directly with the people of Bihar. He declared, "I will contest all 243 assembly seats in Bihar."
Neeraj Kumar's Sharp Rebuttal
Responding to Chirag's statement, senior JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said that LJP-Ram Vilas is a constituent party of the NDA and that alliances are not built on mere statements but on trust and partnership. Neeraj Kumar clearly stated, "Every party makes its preparations, but the final decision rests with the NDA's central leadership. Nitish Kumar will be the Chief Ministerial face in the alliance; this has already been decided."
What is Chirag's 'Bihar First, Bihari First' Agenda?
In his address, Chirag Paswan reiterated his popular slogan, 'Bihar First, Bihari First.' He stated that his aim is to provide Bihar's youth with better education and employment opportunities within the state so they don't have to migrate. He alleged a conspiracy to undermine this vision: "My family and party were broken, but I will neither bend nor break."
Is the Distance Between LJP-Ram Vilas and JD(U) Widening?
Considering the experiences of the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections, it would be premature to say that Chirag Paswan might leave the NDA. However, it's also true that in 2020, the LJP (then the unified party) significantly harmed Nitish Kumar by fielding candidates against the JD(U). Now, Chirag's announcement of contesting 243 seats before 2025 seems to be reviving the same conflict.
Is this a Pressure Tactic for Seat Sharing?
Political analysts believe that Chirag Paswan's statement doesn't directly indicate an intention to break the alliance but might be a strategy to exert pressure before seat allocation. If LJP-Ram Vilas doesn't receive the expected number of seats, they might decide to contest independently on a larger number of seats.
